tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2418254344091525100..comments2015-03-03T16:42:01.670-05:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: SUN., Dec. 28, 2008- P. Berry (BBC panel show regular Phill / Cloak-wearing "Star Wars" race / Controversial 1987 expose by ex-MI5 agent Peter Wright)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31030952459838904352009-01-05T02:36:00.000-05:002009-01-05T02:36:00.000-05:00Oh yes, I meant to say that this puzzle seemed rea...Oh yes, I meant to say that this puzzle seemed really easy to me, but whenever that happens I always figure that the puzzle-maker and I must think along the same lines. I'll have to start keeping track of such things.suemusiconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68433245922361723422009-01-05T02:31:00.000-05:002009-01-05T02:31:00.000-05:00Christmas travel sucks, in the words of my slightl...Christmas travel sucks, in the words of my slightly crude offspring. So do syndicated puzzles, because I just got this today (Jan 4th) and whipped it out while watching "Winged Migration" with hubby. I've been following Rex for a while without commenting (or hardly ever) and decided to comply with his ever-so-polite request to join in. <BR/>I had a pretty easy time with this, even though I didn't get the twist until almost at the end. I had "pun" in the middle for a loooong time (Thespaly, anyone?) which threw me off rather. Then I couldn't figure out why only eight planets and was searching fruitlessly for Pluto in the inner ring until hubby enlightened me. <BR/>I quite liked the trunk in your trunk thing. <BR/>Only do the Sundays, so that's it for this week. I finally got caught up on all of the Sunday crosswords I missed in the fall and summer. Yay! Which speaks to being snowbound over the holidays.suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17580315531280521167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45439883971865932052009-01-04T14:54:00.000-05:002009-01-04T14:54:00.000-05:00Loved the puzzle. The phrase "tour de force" came ...Loved the puzzle. The phrase "tour de force" came to mind. For some reason the Vancouver Sun credited it to Elizabeth Gorski and titled it "Laughing all the Way". Go figger!WWPierrenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15208967819085729552009-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:002009-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:00Interesting puzzle -- didn't know Jupitus -- but f...Interesting puzzle -- didn't know Jupitus -- but figured out the restkashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01261217811960817000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62127183094309692852009-01-03T21:52:00.000-05:002009-01-03T21:52:00.000-05:00Phill Jupitus was a gimme for me: he's the host of...Phill Jupitus was a gimme for me: he's the host of a very well-known UK show called <I>Nevermind the Buzzcocks</I> and he's a regular on Stephen Fry's wonderfully funny <I>QI</I>. The latter is especially worth watching on Guba or Youtube or wherever it's available.<BR/><BR/>As for the puzzle, it was very, very good: nicely designed, with some interesting fill. Nice touch by Berry in leaving Pluto out since it has declassified as a planet.JJSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41087000141022128372008-12-29T23:07:00.000-05:002008-12-29T23:07:00.000-05:00This is the very first time I've done the puzzle (...This is the very first time I've done the puzzle (we only subscribe to the Sunday Times) without a single writeover! I always do them in ink and try to keep the grid from looking too messy on completion. That adds to my joy in doing the puzzle, as does forming attractive letters in each space. Not any pen will do, either. I have really good pens for the puzzle. Call me old-fashioned, but it's all part of the puzzle solving experience. <BR/><BR/>Today -- sheer perfection! I even got all the planets, although that seemed more like a word-search activity to me, and I despise word searches.<BR/><BR/>I'm so happy I'm going to reveal my formerly "anonymous" identity!<BR/><BR/>I was thrilled to find in reading Rex's blog that this wasn't a nursery school edition of the NYT Sunday puzzle given as a New Year's gift to us by Patrick Berry. Rex even deemed it to be "medium" in difficulty. For me it flowed almost effortlessly, also a first.<BR/><BR/>Way to start 2009! Happy New Year, everyone!nurturinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035395856164817422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46701159065355966262008-12-29T03:58:00.000-05:002008-12-29T03:58:00.000-05:00Ulrich,The point is more appreciation than safety....Ulrich,<BR/><BR/>The point is more appreciation than safety.<BR/><BR/>But watch out for pirates on that cruise....<BR/><BR/>Evilevil doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593231055589228837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52910644398292779072008-12-28T23:10:00.000-05:002008-12-28T23:10:00.000-05:00@Ulrich,Please don't fear flying. The vast majori...@Ulrich,<BR/><BR/>Please don't fear flying. The vast majority of flights each day are on-time and glitch free. The only reason I don't prefer to fly is because I can't afford Business or First Class, and most of the airlines Economy class seating is too cramped for me. If I could spring for the upgraded seating, my preference would be to fly.<BR/><BR/>It's so safe, much more so than driving. (Maybe not as safe as sailing, but I wouldn't know for sure, especially around Somalia...)<BR/><BR/>The negatives get sensationalized, but they really are few and far between for the number of flights and air miles flown.<BR/><BR/>I hope you have great flights, and a wonderful time on your trip!Mike the Winohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130415184285936710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45749250634853354722008-12-28T22:40:00.000-05:002008-12-28T22:40:00.000-05:00@evil and mike: Boys, did you ever succeed in conf...@evil and mike: Boys, did you ever succeed in confirming every fear I have of flying...and I paid big bucks to get to Tahiti in March for a cruise of French Polynesia on a 4-mast barkentine, which starts with a flight around half of the world and back...thx for getting me into the mood!!!Ulrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21856886538752933472008-12-28T21:49:00.000-05:002008-12-28T21:49:00.000-05:00This puzzle was a big FAIL for me. No challenge, n...This puzzle was a big FAIL for me. No challenge, no fun. I solved it in record time without ever having to refer to or use the theme. I'm not a fast solver (often have to put the Sunday puzzle down for a day and come back to it), but I thought this was exceptionally easy based on clues alone. I suppose it's nice to know about the construction feat and see how all the planets fit properly in their orbits, but it was all rather irrelevant post solving. I'm not even bothering to try to locate the planet in each orbit because, well, I just don't care at this point, and if I wanted that sort of Sunday activity I'd do the word search in my local rag. I wish the cluing had been more challenging so I would have been forced to rely on the theme.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585974188031797030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35272095704964256952008-12-28T21:28:00.000-05:002008-12-28T21:28:00.000-05:00Oh, and I really liked the puzzle, even though the...Oh, and I really liked the puzzle, even though the circles made my head spin.......Mike the Winohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130415184285936710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74976791983388640872008-12-28T21:22:00.000-05:002008-12-28T21:22:00.000-05:00@evil,I know of which you speak. I work for the co...@evil,<BR/><BR/>I know of which you speak. I work for the company that builds 777's. I'm a flight line technician...as you know, we get them ready for their first flights, and then on to delivery to the customer. When the pilots take them up and "break" them, often times it takes us several hours to troubleshoot the issues, and sometimes days to get replacement parts!<BR/><BR/>I can only imagine what it's like in service. Safety of flight replacement parts may be hundreds (if not thousands) of miles away. Another plane may not be available. The crew is now past their allowable flight window. (That happens with our test pilots, too.)<BR/><BR/>I agree with you. I build them, but even though they are so safe to fly on, I'd rather drive.Mike the Winohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130415184285936710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29623395680642887852008-12-28T20:07:00.000-05:002008-12-28T20:07:00.000-05:00Thank YOU.Home safe...Thank YOU.<BR/><BR/>Home safe...blackbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05474831322702380602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55002535414520133002008-12-28T20:05:00.001-05:002008-12-28T20:05:00.001-05:00@edith b Thanks!@evil doug No thanks!@edith b Thanks!<BR/><BR/>@evil doug No thanks!Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6296629630504110222008-12-28T20:05:00.000-05:002008-12-28T20:05:00.000-05:00OK, everyone. I'm sitting on a balcony in Cancun,...OK, everyone. I'm sitting on a balcony in Cancun, Mexico, having finished this puzzle (and tomorrow's as well, for that matter) and read everyone's comments. I'm "borrowing" my connectivity from an unknown source, and it's about 75 degrees now. I traveled yesterday, but kept up to date by doing that one on the plane, so I will have to catch up with your comments later. My purpose in this post is to tell you that no one can use travel anymore as an excuse for not keeping up with the puzzle (or this blog). Only a few years ago, even if you just went to a small resort town not far outside the NYC metro area, and you couldn't find a dead tree edition, you were stuck. Nowadays, anything is possible. I an also happy to report to anyone who cares, that a portable Sirius radio picks up the signal all the way down here, even though you're only supposed to be able to get it in the US. <BR/>The puzzle? Meh....Steve Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62314619205983575822008-12-28T19:46:00.000-05:002008-12-28T19:46:00.000-05:00dk,I have a nice collection of the stories, which ...dk,<BR/><BR/>I have a nice collection of the stories, which are each introduced with a couple of paragraphs. According to FSF, <BR/><BR/>"The story was inspired by a remark of Mark Twain's to the effect that it was a pity that the best part of life came at the beginning and the worst part at the end."<BR/><BR/>The story was difficult to sell because, "I know that the magazines want only flapper stories from me."fergushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8955899547135810972008-12-28T19:38:00.000-05:002008-12-28T19:38:00.000-05:00tried to change my avatar. lets see if it workedtried to change my avatar. lets see if it workedchefbeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71049589494400235832008-12-28T19:05:00.000-05:002008-12-28T19:05:00.000-05:00@joho, Saw Benj. Button last night and we are stil...@joho, Saw Benj. Button last night and we are still talking about it. Any one know the period/events surround F. Scott Fitzgerald when he wrote the short story. I only hope it is not a Rosebud thing (see Citizen Kane and know about Marion Davies for clarity on this point).dkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44373028252960105222008-12-28T18:56:00.000-05:002008-12-28T18:56:00.000-05:00Spaceballs RV bumper sticker: I (heart) URANUS.Spaceballs RV bumper sticker: I (heart) URANUS.dkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48319216846087920602008-12-28T18:52:00.000-05:002008-12-28T18:52:00.000-05:00@Michael-For URANUS at the U in SUSIE at 4Down go ...@Michael-<BR/><BR/>For URANUS at the U in S<A>U</A>SIE at 4Down go to the N in O<A>N</A>US at 2Down,<BR/>go down to the S in A<A>S</A>AGIFT.<BR/><BR/>For EARTH, got to the first E in B<A>E</A>ET at 32 Down, turn left at the R in <A>R</A>AE at 38Across, go down to the H in ,<A>H</A>ATCH at 53Across.edith bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45761833602971372652008-12-28T18:51:00.000-05:002008-12-28T18:51:00.000-05:00I loved this puzzle. I don't understand how anyone...I loved this puzzle. I don't understand how anyone who knows the number of planets wouldn't get the theme after reading 7a and 124a. Even the online text of 7a points out what the circles are all about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32382626619774349792008-12-28T18:22:00.000-05:002008-12-28T18:22:00.000-05:00Have we really made it all day without any Uranus ...Have we really made it all day without any Uranus jokes? Let me help. Michael says, "I still haven't found earth and uranus."<BR/><BR/>Michael, you don't want to find my anus. <BR/><BR/>Evilevil doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593231055589228837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76575316201642704922008-12-28T18:18:00.000-05:002008-12-28T18:18:00.000-05:00The puzzle itself wasn't too hard, but I am still ...The puzzle itself wasn't too hard, but I am still having trouble with the theme. Even after reading all the comments, I still haven't found earth and uranus.<BR/><BR/> Can someone help? Thanks!Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42921574653331889532008-12-28T17:55:00.001-05:002008-12-28T17:55:00.001-05:00Travel by air is a miracle.Think of the physics. ...Travel by air is a miracle.<BR/><BR/>Think of the physics. Incredible, even in a static vacuum.<BR/><BR/>Now put the system into motion. The maintenance status of ultra-complex machines. Something breaks. Do we have maintenance people in place capable of the fix? Do we have the part in station? How long will it take to fix it---if indeed we've isolated the real problem? Not that unusual to work for hours, only to find the gremlins continue to spin their alchemy. Somebody here wanted an "extra section"; you think there are just spare airplanes hanging around? If it's flyable, it's out earning revenue.<BR/><BR/>What about weather? Even if it's great here, how is it upstream? Downstream? Compound our flight with dozens, maybe hundreds, of others fighting for the same airspace when an opening appears.<BR/><BR/>What about crews? Their duty periods aren't open-ended. Do the delays push them against their FAA limitations? If so, can we get another crew to replace them? There are some reserves in five or ten crew bases, but the number is small. If we find a warm body can we get him/her to where we need them?<BR/><BR/>Air traffic hardware is practically steam-powered---1950's technology, vacuum tubes, strained to the max. Controllers are pushed to their own limits, often understaffed.<BR/><BR/>You wonder why employees are fraying at the seams? Any wrinkle appears, and 180 people are at the agent's throat. On the sealed up tube, stuck on a taxiway for hours, the flight attendants are an easy target for anger and frustration, even though they control nothing beyond the galley---and even then the airplane can't budge without every butt in a seat, including theirs.<BR/><BR/>So the dance goes on, with permutations beyond one's imagination. It's truly amazing that such a huge percentage of flights are successfully---and safely---completed. And at a price roughly half of what it cost in 1979 corrected for inflation.<BR/><BR/>My retirement flight was in April of 2004. I've been on an airplane four times since, and it's only kicking and screaming as my wife drags me to the airport. Stay home. Enjoy the peace. But if you choose to fly, don't be that whining POS who thinks the world revolves around him....<BR/><BR/>Evilevil doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593231055589228837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57352258660773168282008-12-28T17:55:00.000-05:002008-12-28T17:55:00.000-05:00Even with the shaded ORBITS, I found this one kind...Even with the shaded ORBITS, I found this one kinda ho-hum. I wonder, though, whether the positioning of the planets corresponds to the present, or some other date in history? That would be cool. Maybe adding a couple more well-known moons? That would be impressive. <BR/><BR/>There's a really cool statue of SUN YAT-SEN in San Francisco. In St. Mary's Square, just above the BofA building. Great place for financial workers to do Tai-Chi, have lunch, or reinvent the tedium of the day during a break, if you know what I mean.fergushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.com